Join the Anthropology Club on Thursday, Nov. 12, for a showing of The Cherokee Word for Water, in honor of Native American Heritage Month. The feature-length film, which is only available for showing at special events such as this, tells the true story of Wilma Mankiller, first female leader of the Cherokee Nation, and her work to restore water to a despondent Cherokee community. The film highlights the concept of Gadugi, a Cherokee word which means “working together for the common good.” It is a significant film that shows the importance of cooperation and activism.
Set in the 1980s, The Cherokee Word for Water focuses on the small community of Bell, Oklahoma, where many houses lack running water and others are little more than shacks. That is, until the arrival of Wilma Mankiller. Working with Cherokee tribal members and members of the community, Mankiller (played by Kimberly Guerrero) builds a twenty-mile long waterline to save the community. In doing so, she helps the Cherokee people, stolen from and degraded for centuries, return to their cultural roots and find hope once again.
“With Wilma Mankiller’s hard work to get this diverse community together, it enabled them to generate a self-help project that changed everyone’s lives immeasurably,” says UHMC Anthropology professor Dr. Melissa Kirkendall. “It was through her hard effort of bringing people together throughout her life that made her such an incredible leader.”
The Anthropology club is very excited to be showing the film. The club, which normally only has small movie parties, has never put on an event this large. “This is our club’s first public movie showing,” says Club President Sarah Brandenstein. “We are expecting at least fifty people to come, but hope many more will be able to come!”
The Cherokee Word for Water was voted the top American Indian film of the last 40 years and will also be featured at the 40th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco this month.
The event will take place in the Student Life room at the Pilina building on November 12th at 5 pm and show time will be at 5:45. Free popcorn and sodas will be served.
For further information, please contact Dr. Melissa Kirkendall. kirkenda@hawaii.edu, (808)264-5441.
